Steady rest



Feb. 15, 1966 A. s. DINSMORE STEADY REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1965 INVENTOR. 072 /2117 5: Dias/1207a BY ATTORNEY-5'.

Feb. 15, 1966 A. s. DINSMORE STEADY REST 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1963 INVENTOR arl kai shzz'zzsmoze BY ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofitice 3,234,829 STEADY REST Arthur S. Dinsrnore, Seneca Falls, N.Y., assignor to Seneca Falls Machine Co., Seneca Falls, N.Y. Filed Apr. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 272,278 6 Claims. (Cl. 8239) This invention relates to a new and useful steady rest particularly adapted for use in conjunction with lathes and similar machine tools.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a steady rest which will perform its intended function without distorting the workpiece, regardless of its diameter.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sequentially operable duplex steady rest.

In one aspect thereof, a steady rest constructed in accordance with my invention is characterized by the provision of three work-engaging members spaced about a work axis, an operating member, a set of three arms having relatively fixed rock axes, the work-engaging members being carried by the arms, and connection means between the operating member and the arms whereby movement of the former produces equal movement of the work-engaging members relative to the work axis.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of one, illustrative embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a duplex steady rest of my invention; and

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, certain parts being broken away to show details.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, there is shown a duplex steady rest of my invention comprising a pair of steady rests 1, 1', identical except for the configuration of the work-engaging rollers. While shown in horizontal position, the steady rests normally are generally vertical. The steady rests 1, 1' have a common mounting, comprising a pad 2 secured to the base 3 of the machine tool, as by appropriate bolt iastenings 4 and 5, and a plate 6 secured to pad 2. Plate 6 is normal to pad 2, whereby they comprise a T-shaped mounting.

The duplex unit offers certain advantages, as will become apparent. However, each steady rest can be used singly, and since they are identical in construction and operation, only one will be described in detail.

Each steady rest 1, 1 is provided with three work-engaging members in the form of rollers. Two of the rollers, shown at 7, are mounted on crank type rock arms 8 pivotally supported at 9 between mounting plate 6 and a plate 10. The third roller, shown at 7', is mounted on a rock arm 11 pivoted at 12 between plates 6 and 10. The axes of pivots 9 and 12 are parallel to the work axis 28, and arms 8 and 11 extend generally circumferentially of the work axis.

An operating member in the form of a slide block 13 moves linearly along plate 6, being guided by a vertically elongated key 14 which is secured in a slot plate 6. Key 14 engages in a key way 16 in the back of slide block 13, and the slide block is held against plate 6, in sliding engagement therewith, by a pair of flanged blocks 17 overhanging slide block 13 and carried by plate 6.

A pair of brackets 18 are carried by slide 13, being secured thereto as by fastenings 19. At their upper ends, brackets 18 are bifurcated to releasably clamp about an eccentric pivot 20 on which the lower ends of connecting links 21 are journalled. Pivots 20 are clamped in adjusted position about their axes by bolts 29. At their 3,234,829 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 upper ends, links 21 are pivoted, at 22, to the outer ends of operating arms 8' on bell cranks 8. Another connecting link 23 is pivoted at its lower end between slide block 13 and a plate 24 carried thereby, as shown at 25. At its upper end, link 23 is provided with a clevis 26 journalling the axle 27 of wheel 7.

Thus, arms 8 and 11 are pivoted about their axes 9 and 12 upon linear movement of slide block 13. This movement is provided by a suitable motor, such as the air cylinder 30 pivotally mounted at 31 on a bracket 32 and containing a piston, not shown. Piston rod 33 is pivoted at its outer end to a bell crank 34 having a fixed pivot 35 on a bracket 36. A connecting rod 37 is secured at one end in a head 38 pivoted at 39 to plate 24 and block 13. At its other end, rod 37 is threaded in a socket 40, being locked in adjusted position by nut 41, whereby the length of rod 37 can be selectively varied. The lower end of socket 40 is pivoted on bell crank 34, as shown at 42.

Rock arms 8 and 11 position the work-engaging rollers 7, 7 equal distances from pivots 9 and '12. Also, rock arm 11 and operating arm 8' extend at identical angles, although one operating arm 8 extends upwardly and outwardly in the opposite direction from the other operating arm 8' and rock arm 11. Eccentric pivots 22 provide a means for adjusting the angle of operating arms 8' into correspondence with the angle of rock arm .11, and there by compensate for manufacturing tolerances. Links 21 and 23 are connected to arms 8 and 11 at equal distances from pivots 9 and 12.

Thus, work-engaging rollers 7, 7' are swung through identical arcs toward and away from work axis 28, upon movement of slide block 13 in opposite directions. As a result, rollers 7, 7 are always centered relative to work axis 28, regardless of their position along the arcs comprising their range of movement. The position of such arcs can be adjusted, to accommodate different ranges of workpiece diameters by adjusting the length of connecting rod 37 and thereby varying the arcuate position of rollers 7, "7 for a given position of motor 30.

The provision of -a duplex steady rest enables sequen tial operation, while providing a compact unit. For ex ample, when used with a lathe type of machine tool having a movable carriage, the first steady rest 1 will be open, to pass the cutting tool, while the second steady rest 1' will engage and support the workpiece. Then, once the cutting tool is past steady rest 1, it will engage and support the workpiece while steady rest 1 is open to pass the tool.

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accomplishes its intended objects. While I have disclosed and described in detail only one embodiment of my invention, that has been done by way of illustration only, it being intended that the scope of my invention be defined by the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim as new is:

1. In a steady rest for lathes and similar machine tools, a set of three work-engaging members spaced about a work axis, three rock arms having relatively fixed pivots, said work-engaging members being carried by said rock arms at substantially equal distances from said pivots to move toward and away from said work axis along substantially identical arcs, operating means, first link means between said operating means and one of said arms, the other two rock arms having operating arms movable therewith, and second link means independently linking said operating means and said two operating arms, said one rock arm and said operating arms extending from said pivots at substantially the same angle and said first and second link means being connected to the associated arms at substantially equal distances from said pivots, whereby movement of said operating means produces substantially identical movements of said three work-engaging members toward or away from said work axis.

2. A steady rest as set forth in claim 1, together with adjustable eccentric pivot means connecting each of said second link means to said operating means.

3. A steady rest for lathes and similar machine tools as set forth in claim 1 together with mounting means for vertical attachment of the rest to the machine tool whereby when the rest is mounted and the three work engaging members are positioned away from said work axis, a work piece may be dropped into place between said work engaging members.

4. In a steady rest for lathes and similar machine tools, a set of three work engaging rollers spaced about a work axis, three rock arms of equal length having relatively fixed pivots and extending in a generally circumferential direction with respect to said work axis, one of said rollers being rotatably carried by the outer end of each rock arm to move toward and away from said work axis along substantially identical arcs, operating means movable in a generally radial direction with respect to said Work axis and connected by first link means to one of said rock arms, the other two rock arms having operating arms movable therewith, and a pair of second link means independently linking said operating means and said two operating arms whereby radial movement of said operating means produces substantially identical movements of said three rollers toward or away from said work axis.

5. In a steady rest for lathes and similar machine tools, a set of three work-engaging rollers spaced about a work axis, three rock arms of equal length having relatively fixed pivots and extending in a generally circum- 4. ierential direction with respect to said work axis, one of said rollers being rotatably carried by the outer end of each rock arm for movement toward and away from said work axis along substantially identical arcs, operating means movable in a generally radial direction with respect to said work axis, first link means between said operating means and one of said rock arms, the other two rock arms having operating arms movable therewith, and second link means between said operating means and said two operating arms, said one rock arm and said operating arms extending at substantially the same angle and said link means being connected to the associated arms at substantially equal distances from said pivot, whereby radial movement of said operating means produces substantially identical movements of said three rollers toward or away from said work axis.

6. A steady rest for lathes and similar machine tools as set forth in claim 4 together with mounting means for vertical attachment of the rest to the machine tool whereby when the rest is mounted and the three work engaging members are positioned away from said Work axis, a work piece may be dropped into place between said work engaging members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 602,965 4/1898 Walker 8239 X 1,826,445 10/1931 Balsiger. 2,459,068 1/1949 Eastwood 82-39 X 2,526,487 10/1950 Kurzweil et al. 82-39 X 2,547,529 4/1951 Lichtenberg 82--39 X 2,612,809 10/1952 Shager 8239 3,103,840 9/1963 Beacom et al 8239 X WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A STEADY REST FOR LATHES AND SIMILAR MACHINE TOOLS, A SET OF THREE WORK-ENGAGING MEMBERS SPACED ABOUT A WORK AXIS, THREE ROCK ARMS HAVING RELATIVELY FIXED PIVOTS, SAID WORK-ENGAGING MEMBERS BEING CARRIED BY SAID ROCK ARMS AT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DISTANCES FROM SAID PIVOT TO MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID WORK AXIS ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL ARCS, OPERATING MEANS, FIRST LINK MEANS BETWEEN SAID OPERATING MEANS AND ONE OF SAID ARMS, THE OTHER TWO ROCK ARMS HAVING OPERATING ARMS MOVABLE THEREWITH, AND SECOND LINK MEANS INDEPENDENTLY LINKING SAID OPERATING MEANS AND SAID TWO OPERATING ARMS, SAID ONE ROCK ARM AND SAID OPERATING ARMS EXTENDING FROM SAID PIVOTS AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGLE AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINK MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ASSOCIATED 